Une Valse au bord de la Petchora (1992) : distribution, intrigue et streaming

Released in 1992, Une Valse au bord de la Petchora is a drame and histoire film directed by Lana Goghoberidze, running about 102 minutes. “A film like a lament, without emphasis, painful and moving, a signal from the East that has not yet submitted to the political and aesthetic will of the West” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. Set in 1937 Stalinist Georgia, the film traces the parallel destinies of a mother, condemned by the government as "an enemy of the people" and exiled to a work camp in Siberia, and her daughter, who meanwhile is sent to an orphanage. Arriving at the overcrowded work camp, the mother and other women who are not considered strong enough to be labourers, must journey still farther, crossing the icy Siberian landscape in search of food and shelter. At the same time, the daughter escapes the orphanage and returns to her former home, where she finds that a KGB officer has taken up residence. He protects her and an uneasy rapport between them develops—one of abhorrence and attraction, need and suspicion.

Who’s in it. Une Valse au bord de la Petchora stars Guram Pirtskhalava, Nino Surguladze as Anna, Marika Chichinadze and Irina Kupchenko, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 2.5/10, Une Valse au bord de la Petchora has proved divisive with audiences.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Une Valse au bord de la Petchora page.

If you liked it. Fans of Une Valse au bord de la Petchora tend to enjoy Les Évadés, Le Parrain, La Liste de Schindler and Le Parrain, 2e partie.